We don’t yet know the origin story for SARS-CoV-2

By Katherine E Arden, PhD & Ian M Mackay, PhD The existence of a coronavirus related to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) was first hinted at by a researcher Read More ...

Kits, reagents and viruses

The COVID-19 pandemic has driven use of the words “kit” and “reagent”. I completely feel for you if you still have no real idea of what is meant by the Read More ...

COVID-19 is not a virus, but SARS-CoV-2 is

For about two weeks we lived with, published using, and talked about, a disease-causing virus called the “novel coronavirus”. That name was always going to create problems like, what do Read More ...

We don’t yet know the origin story for SARS-CoV-2

Posted onMay 4, 2020May 4, 202019 Comments

By Katherine E Arden, PhD & Ian M Mackay, PhD The existence of a coronavirus related to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) was first hinted at by a researcher Read More …

Kits, reagents and viruses

Posted onApril 12, 2020May 14, 202012 Comments

The COVID-19 pandemic has driven use of the words “kit” and “reagent”. I completely feel for you if you still have no real idea of what is meant by the Read More …

COVID-19 cases slow a little in Australia

Posted onMarch 27, 2020March 28, 202014 Comments

Our borders have been shut to non-citizens for about a week and despite being regularly admonished for being terrible at obeying confusing, constantly changing or poorly communicated new rules, the Read More …

COVID-19 is not a virus, but SARS-CoV-2 is

Posted onMarch 21, 2020March 23, 202032 Comments

Politically infectious period

Posted onMarch 20, 2020March 20, 20205 Comments

A senior Australian politician arrived in Australia from the United States (US) carrying a SARS-CoV-2 infection. Many infected travellers are arriving from the US at the moment. He self-reports becoming Read More …

Why does soap work so well on SARS-CoV-2?

Posted onMarch 9, 2020March 9, 202038 Comments

This is a guest post from Prof Palli Thordarson of the Uni of New South Wales. It was previously posted in a Twitter thread and on Facebook and has been Read More …

COVID-19 in Australia

Posted onMarch 9, 2020March 9, 202010 Comments

As the cases begin to build up – but are still pretty low with limited community spread having been detected – now is a good time to start watching where Read More …

Face off

Posted onMarch 8, 2020March 29, 202013 Comments

We touch our faces often. Maybe 3 to 23 times an hour often! But if our hands haven’t just been washed and we’ve touched surfaces contaminated by viruses surviving in Read More …

Ya es tiempo pasado para decirle al público: ‘Probablemente será una pandemia, y todos deberíamos prepararnos ahora’

Posted onMarch 7, 2020March 7, 2020Leave a comment

Por Jody Lanard y Peter M. Sandman al Español por Daniel Romero-AlvarezPublicado originalmente en Inglés por Ian M. Mackay en su blog personalA translated version of my earlier post, performed Read More …

Add some balance to the expert commentary

Posted onMarch 1, 2020March 7, 20208 Comments

Look. If this triggers your innate biases or your need to call me out as a virtue signaler or tell me “now isn’t the time”, seriously save yourself the spittle Read More …

Virology Down Under

Facts, data, info, expert opinion and a reasonable, occasionally grumpy, voice on viruses: what they are, how they tick and the illnesses they may cause.

Latest posts...

We don’t yet know the origin story for SARS-CoV-2

Kits, reagents and viruses

COVID-19 is not a virus, but SARS-CoV-2 is

We don’t yet know the origin story for SARS-CoV-2

Kits, reagents and viruses

COVID-19 cases slow a little in Australia

COVID-19 is not a virus, but SARS-CoV-2 is

Politically infectious period

Why does soap work so well on SARS-CoV-2?

COVID-19 in Australia

Face off

Ya es tiempo pasado para decirle al público: ‘Probablemente será una pandemia, y todos deberíamos prepararnos ahora’

Add some balance to the expert commentary